HOW PHYSICAL REVOLUTION CHANGED MY LIFE

By Jan Kennedy

I would like to share with you a little about myself. My name is Jan Kennedy, I am a 49 year old mother of three grown up kids. I have been involved with Physical Revolution and Bootcamp for the past five years and meeting Chris Chalmers was the change I needed in my life. I always had the never give up attitude but found it difficult to find someone who thought the same as I do. Chris always brings out my competitive spirit and he continues to drive my never give up attitude, even if he does call me ‘old girl!’

It all began back in 2004, I was a member at one of the council gyms and had been there for some time. After a period of time I found that my training became a chore and it was a struggle to get there. I was very dissatisfied and needed a change. One Thursday afternoon whilst in town I saw the advertisement for Bootcamp 11 in the window of Physical Revolution.

I went to make some enquiries and was so impressed that I registered for Bootcamp 11 straight away. The camp was scheduled to commence August 2004. Chris invited me along to the information night, which was held at the gym and I found him to speak with great inspiration. I was pumped! I felt that my fitness level was at a reasonable level and thought to myself “here is a challenge”. Was it going to live up to my expectations? Time would tell.

I met my fellow Boot Campers on Saturday morning at the Botanical Gardens, which was the designated site. I was feeling very nervous but excited at the same time. Chris gave clear instructions of the circuit of the fitness test, which at that time was as follows:

1. One lap of Botanical Gardens and down to Eastern beach
2. 30 step ups, 20 push ups, 10 squats
3. Run one Lap of promenade
4. Repeat the 3 exercises at the bottom of the steps
5. Run up the steps, and then go left toward the promenade
6. Repeat the exercises again
7. Run one more lap of the promenade
8. Repeat the exercises at the steps
9. Run up the stairs back to the entrance of the Botanical Gardens

The fitness test has always been based on the time and for my first fitness test I completed the course in 22 minutes. This put me in the Platoon Level 2.

Since Bootcamp 11 in 2004, I have seen it grow from strength to strength. With each Bootcamp Chris in his wisdom increased the intensity of the fitness test. So each camp it became a bigger challenge every time. After completing Bootcamp 11 I progressed to the Platoon Level 1, being the first woman to advance into the top group in the history of the camps. Since then I always strive for that high level.

The last few Bootcamps have seen a number of women come into Group 1. it is a wonderful achievement and this brings out a rich competitive spirit between us. Lets face it if we can beat a couple of blokes home we are wrapped!

Over the years at Physical Revolution I have met some life long, wonderful people (male and female) and have formed friendships. I have had some major challenges in my life and with the support and friendship of the people at Physical Revolution I have been able to cope. Physical Revolution is my “family” and I have never looked back since that bloody run in August 2004. I hope this has enlightened you with how Bootcamp is, but remember you have to work hard to get results, and the results will amaze you!

Hi Chris

Thanks for your commentary.

More than fitness and weight loss (well the latter actually hasn’t happened – I hope it’s all turning to muscle!) I have come to realise that a key outcome for me has been realising just how much more I can actually do physically if I put my mind to it and really try hard. I am quite surprised by what I have done that I never thought I would previously. The power of mind over matter is truly amazing and I just want let you know how great Cam has been as a trainer. He gets the best out of his group through encouragement and positive reinforcement, which is really appreciated.

In the big picture, one hour of cold and miserable weather is not such a big challenge to overcome. The biggest challenge is recognising that you can actually do far more than you realise. I now have no reluctance to run or do push ups as I realise that is a part of every training session and every time I feel that I am improving bit by bit.

When I started my first boot camp (the last one held) I was not concerned at all about subscribing to a mantra of being able to do anything at any time as I felt pretty confident about where I was at in this regard anyway. I have come to appreciate, however, that the benefit I take from doing things physically that I never thought I would be capable of doing have transcended into my life in general and just doing boot camp gives me the energy and mental clarity that I need to focus on a highly stressful and challenging work life. People tell me I am inspirational because I am being disciplined in doing this (and keeping up with people ½ my age) and I realise that I am being a role model to others as well and that in my doing something like this others benefit too. I don’t want to end up an old lady who can’t get out of her chair because my bones have seized up. I want to go into my old age, hopefully, with energy and vigour and the ability to still remain physically active for as long as possible.

Thanks again for the words of inspiration and encouragement.

Regards

Bernadette

KIM MURPHY: Working Mum & Wife.

Hi Corrine & Chris,

Thankyou for your recent email. I meant what I said about you guys being genuine, caring people. I’ve never been into another gym before and I’ve always had a pre-empted idea in my mind about images at gyms. I’m not the type to go strutting around in the latest gym gear showing off for all to see. Rather the opposite- hoping no-one notices what I look like (the dark early mornings and night sessions are good for hiding in - not good for training in though !). Its so nice to feel comfortable, relaxed and a part of your gym. The trainers are so friendly, caring and genuine. It feels like an extended family, and even Michael has noticed how "my" group is so close and encouraging to everyone in it. It takes great "leaders"- that’s you and Chris - to start that flowing.... and then it will automatically flow onto the other staff- which it has.... That is a great quality which you guys possess. You are both firmly grounded and have a passion and high standard that shows, and will continue to grow and develop. Thankyou for all your provision and opportunity that you've given Alysha and I, we really appreciate it.

Thanks again, Kim Murphy

Chris

At long last l found some time to put this together for you.

We’ll start from the beginning, my wife Jude enrolled me into Boot Camp because l needed to do something about my weight and fitness. Most of my life l’ve been reasonably fit doing some type of activity to get the heart rate up. But l landed a job in China and for a year l ate and drank without any exercise at all and l ballooned out to a massive 110 kg. Hence Boot Camp. Jude and l both went to the information session on the Thursday night and Jude said she would love to do it too. So that night l had my last pizza for 7 weeks, …. heartbreaking.

We both rolled up on Saturday morning for the fitness test, dressed in my new Boot Camp uniform. After the explanation of the fitness test and course. l wanted to go home, feeling a heart attack coming on. Anyway we started the fitness test and what a cracking pace was set, by the time l got to the eastern beach promenade l was puffing more than Puffing Billy and in a bit of trouble and by the time l got to the top of the stairs my legs were like jelly. So l did what any 110kg unfit bloke would do STOP and had a walk.So all through the fitness test l ran and walk and ran and walk. Anyway l did the fitness test in 43 minutes.

I took Boot Camp seriously no alcohol and eating only good food, no processed food.

Chris strongly advises that we should see our doctor and get our cholesterol checked so l did after about 1 1/2 weeks of Boot Camp. He was a big wrap for Boot Camp and took measurements of my stomach, weight, blood pressure and gave me a referral to have a blood test to check my cholesterol.

I ended up in group 7 no surprise to anyone, but l stuck at it and l didn’t miss a session. All sessions l found hard and l’ve never been so sore in my entire life, being a tradesman climbing up and down ladders l found it difficult. It got to a point when l was so sore that my wife (Jude) would give me a rub down before a session. But l was determined to 1/ lose weight and 2/ get fit, they were my goals and also to catch Jude who was in group 4.

At last the 5 weeks was finally up and it was fitness test time again, l felt this time l was a bit more prepared than the last. We did the same course as last time under the same conditions and l ran it in 33 minutes beating my original time by 10 minutes.

After the 5 weeks of Boot Camp l went back to the doctors to have all my measurements done again Weight l had lost 18 kg’s, I lost 14 cm off my stomach, Blood pressure was 137 over 84 compared to when l first saw the doctor 146 over 92, Cholesterol original was 4.0 and haven’t had it done again. So he was amazed with the progress. Now l have heaps more energy to enjoy my life

Jude and l have kept up the exercise and now my weight is down to 88kg and I’m hoping to get to around 80 – 82 kg so l’ve still have a little way to go. I’ve enrolled in the next Boot Camp and hopefully reach my goal with a bit of hard work.Just to summarize if you’re prepared to eat the right food do the exercise you can achieve good results.

I hope this email inspires someone else to achieve good results because it can be done.

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank Chris and all the Boot Camp trainers that I’ve had especially Jim, for their time and patience.

There is one other person l have to thank and that’s my wife Jude for enrolling me and pushing me along.

Thanks Chris

Wayne Wright

TIM EDWARDS: Minister of Bayside Christian Church, Father of 4 and husband.

Dear Chris and the Team at Physical Revolution,

As a pastor I spend most of my life helping other people to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy body, soul and spirit. Unfortunately, somewhere along my own journey, despite the fact that I had looked after my soul and spirit fairly well, I had completely neglected the health of my body. Physically I was in very poor shape and condition. At only 35 years of age I found myself weighing 121kgs and struggling to find enough energy to complete each day. My wife and I are raising four young children and leading a community-focussed church, which creates a very busy life, and I was simply not keeping up with it all.

Encouraged by two friends who had completed a Boot Camp I decided to sign up myself. I approached Boot Camp with determination, looking for results, and I was not disappointed. The result of the fitness test on the first Saturday morning was humiliating and embarrassing but only made me more determined to improve. My time was 50 minutes 30 seconds, but by the end of the 5 weeks I had cut my time to 29 minutes 50 seconds – taking nearly 21 minutes off my time! In the process I had also lost 11 kgs and was beginning to feel so much better. Encouraged by these results I returned immediately for the next Boot Camp, which I am in the middle of right now. I have so far lost a total of 19 kgs over the past 12 weeks and taken 23 cm off my waist measurement and 15cm off both my hips and my chest. I am loving, not only the results but the entire experience.

Yes, it is hard work and yes, it requires commitment and dedication from the individual, but the team at Boot Camp have made every session successful. Each instructor I have met and worked with is enthusiastic, professional, encouraging and helpful. The positive attitude and attention to detail (with T-shirts, drink bottles, nutritional information, changing locations, prizes, gym access etc) adds so much life, energy and unity to the whole process. I will certainly keep coming back for more. Thank you Chris for initiating and overseeing such a fantastic concept, which is clearly helping many people to discover that there is so much more to life - if only they will take the first step.

God Bless you.Yours sincerely, Tim Edwards

JARED WALLEY: Employee at Belmont Stereo Systems, Father & Husband.

Hi Chris, First of all, thanks for your call this morning, I appreciate the concern and support. To be honest the call was quite a shock. I was telling you on Tuesday morning (while you shuffled along with me and my sore shins!) that I work at Belmont Stereo Systems, we pride ourselves on customer service and actually giving a shit and taking pride in our work. And in the 3 or 4 weeks that I have been doing Bootcamp, I have been seeing the same dedication from you and your team. IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Thanks again, Jared Walley

CARMEN POLWARTH: Working mother of 2 and wife.

Hi Chris,

Just a note to say thanks for the help and encouragement last week to help me finish and continue the bootcamp. Without sounding ‘corny’ I would like to say that in the last few days since speaking with you and Corrine about my lack of self esteem and confidence, I have come to feel much better about myself than I have in 25 years (no, I’m not exaggerating.) I can see that if I keep pushing myself I can succeed. I hope to continue on to better myself and achieve another great time in the next bootcamp, then complete a 10km run in December and finish the Fitness Instructor / Personal Trainer course I have been undertaking, with the hope of working with young adults and children in the future. Once again, many thanks for the inspiration to keep on going.

Kindest Regards, Carmen Polwarth

BRETT: Working father

Hi Chris,

First of all I would like to thank you and the whole team for Bootcamp. The support of everyone was fantastic and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking to rekindle their desire to get fit or just to push themselves in a safe & friendly environment. I was thrilled with how I went in the final challenge and look forward to doing another Bootcamp later in the year to improve even more. For me personally it was a huge challenge on so many levels. As someone who has been fit for most of my life, I hoped to do Bootcamp and get back into the habit of regular training and make it part of my life again.

What I found though is getting fitter is helping me in so many parts of my life. I have more energy and even though I have a long way to go I now have the mental attitude that it is a long journey and it will take time and there is no quick fix, like crash diets and shakes, starvation and all the other crap I have tried over the past few years, but it is now part of my life again and I am enjoying it.As someone who suffers from chronic post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, it was a huge personal challenge to first of all sign up and then make sure I got to all the sessions. It has helped me greatly with my PTSD and even though it hasn’t cured it I feel better and stronger mentally and so I thank you for that.

My children were there for the final fitness challenge and it brought tears to my eyes (luckily I was sweating lots and you couldn’t see them) when at the end, and I had crossed the line they both said they were proud of me. There is nothing like that in the world when your kids say that, and that’s when I realized how important it was for me to keep going.Thank you also for the gift for the Athletes Foot. It was totally unexpected and a great thrill. I never expected to receive anything like that, as I only went into this to push myself and see how far I could go. They will certainly come in handy as my new pursuit of fitness continues.

Please thank all of your staff for me, especially Noreen and Amy as they were all so encouraging and supportive during those times when I just felt I had no more to give or was really battling to get through a session.

Kindest regards, Brett